rod

Etymology

From Middle English rodde, from Old English *rodd or *rodde (attested in dative plural roddum (“rod, pole”)), of uncertain origin, but probably from Proto-Germanic *rudd- (“stick, club”), from Proto-Indo-European *rewdʰ- (“to clear land”). Compare Old Norse rudda (“club”). For the root, compare English rid. Presumably unrelated to Proto-Germanic *rōdō (“rod, pole”).

noun

1. A straight, round stick, shaft, bar, cane, or staff.
   The circus strong man proved his strength by bending an iron rod, and then straightening it.
2. A longitudinal pole used for forming part of a framework such as an awning or tent.
3. (fishing) A long slender usually tapering pole used for angling; fishing rod.
   When I hooked a snake and not a fish, I got so scared I dropped my rod in the water.
4. A stick, pole, or bundle of switches or twigs (such as a birch), used for personal defense or to administer corporal punishment by whipping.
5. An implement resembling and/or supplanting a rod (particularly a cane) that is used for corporal punishment, and metonymically called the rod, regardless of its actual shape and composition.
   The judge imposed on the thief a sentence of fifteen strokes with the rod.
6. A stick used to measure distance, by using its established length or task-specific temporary marks along its length, or by dint of specific graduated marks.
   I notched a rod and used it to measure the length of rope to cut.
7. (archaic) A unit of length equal to 1 pole, a perch, ¹⁄₄ chain, 5+¹⁄₂ yards, 16+¹⁄₂ feet, or exactly 5.0292 meters (these being all equivalent).
   ‘And this thicket, so full of a natural art, was in the immediate vicinity, within a few rods, of the dwelling of Madame Deluc, whose boys were in the habit of closely examining the shrubberies about them in search of the bark of the sassafras.’ 1842, Edgar Allan Poe, The Mystery of Marie Rogêt
   In one of the villages I saw the next summer a cow tethered by a rope six rods long[…]. 1865, Henry David Thoreau, Cape Cod
   the valley is forty to sixty rods wide 1924, Edward A. Ross, “Pocketed Americans”, in World Drift, New York, London: The Century Co., published 1928, page 68
8. An implement held vertically and viewed through an optical surveying instrument such as a transit, used to measure distance in land surveying and construction layout; an engineer's rod, surveyor's rod, surveying rod, leveling rod, ranging rod. The modern (US) engineer's or surveyor's rod commonly is eight or ten feet long and often designed to extend higher. In former times a surveyor's rod often was a single wooden pole or composed of multiple sectioned and socketed pieces, and besides serving as a sighting target was used to measure distance on the ground horizontally, hence for convenience was of one rod or pole in length, that is, 5+¹⁄₂ yards.
9. (archaic) A unit of area equal to a square rod, 30+¹⁄₄ square yards or ¹⁄₁₆₀ acre.
   The house had a small yard of about six rods in size.
10. A straight bar that unites moving parts of a machine, for holding parts together as a connecting rod or for transferring power as a driveshaft.
    The engine threw a rod, and then went to pieces before our eyes, springs and coils shooting in all directions.
11. (anatomy) A rod cell: a rod-shaped cell in the eye that is sensitive to light.
    The rods are more sensitive than the cones, but do not discern color.
12. (biology) Any of a number of long, slender microorganisms.
    He applied a gram positive stain, looking for rods indicative of Listeria.
13. (chemistry) A stirring rod: a glass rod, typically about 6 inches to 1 foot long and ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ inch in diameter that can be used to stir liquids in flasks or beakers.
14. (slang) A pistol; a gun.
    One of them strode to his side and ran experienced fingers through his clothes. "No rod," he reported, "where's the jewelry?" Aug 1916, The Electrical Experimenter, New York, page 249, column 1
15. (slang, vulgar) The penis.
16. (slang) A hot rod, an automobile or other passenger motor vehicle modified to run faster and often with exterior cosmetic alterations, especially one based originally on a pre-1940s model or (currently) denoting any older vehicle thus modified.
17. (ufology) A rod-shaped object that appears in photographs or videos traveling at high speed, not seen by the person recording the event, often associated with extraterrestrial entities.
    These cylindrical rods fly through the air at incredible speeds and can only be picked up by high-speed cameras. 2000, Jack Barranger, Paul Tice, Mysteries Explored: The Search for Human Origins, Ufos, and Religious Beginnings, Book Three, p.37
    During one such broadcast in 1997, the esteemed radio host bellowed, “I got a fax earlier today from MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) in Arizona and they said what you think are rods are actually insects!” 2009, Barry Conrad, An Unknown Encounter: A True Account of the San Pedro Haunting, Dorrance Publishing, pages 129–130
    He tells of a home video showing a rod flying into the open mouth of a girl singing at a wedding. 2010, Deena West Budd, The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology: Werewolves, Dragons, Skyfish, Lizard Men, and Other Fascinating Creatures Real and Mysterious, Weiser Books, page 15
18. (mathematics) A Cuisenaire rod.
19. (rail transport) A coupling rod or connecting rod, which links the driving wheels of a steam locomotive, and some diesel shunters and early electric locomotives.
    In the early days troubles were experienced with oscillation from the rod drive and with the transformers, but were overcome later, and these machines performed useful service until superseded by more modern locomotives less costly in maintenance. 1960 December, Cecil J. Allen, “Operating a mountain main line: the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon: Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 743

verb

1. (construction) To reinforce concrete with metal rods.
2. (transitive) To furnish with rods, especially lightning rods.
3. (slang, vulgar, transitive) To penetrate sexually.
   On impulse he moved around to the opposite side of the couple, in the direction which Grace's broad buttocks were pointed, for a full view of the big boned woman's back side. Now Grace wouldn't mind one iota if he rodded her from the rear. 1968, David Lynn, Bull nuts
4. (slang) To hot rod.
   There were three clear sets, more than what you might expect at Heartbreak Point, given all the juvies rodding in and out of there with their girlfriends. 2007, Dana Stabenow, A Deeper Sleep, page 45